4* Ohfervations on the Elk. 



"fend the whole acquired the form of a thunder-cloud. Some 

 minutes after, black rainy clouds, formed of the vapour driven 

 downwards, and of the remains of the covering, were col- 

 k'(ftcd below ; and I expeiSfed every moment to fee the firft 

 flafli of lightning, which foon followed. A little rain fell at 

 ionic diftance, but within a quarter of an hour the cloud was 

 f|^. diftended that it was foon loft in a thin mift. The fime 

 phenomenon, though not fo ftriking, I have fince feen in a 

 great many other tbunder-cloiids, but inverted. Inllead ot 

 a tine vapour being thrown out, and fovniing a covering, I 

 faw v/hite clouds fink down, fpread thcmielves out like 

 a veil over the arched part of the cloud, and difperic thcm- 

 felves in it. The reafon why the vapour thrown out from 

 tne cloud here defcribed formed a ring, was its lingular form. 

 The vapour, hv being forced out on all fides, was fo com- 

 prcfTcd that it could extend itfelf only edgeways, and after- 

 wards ditfufc itfelf round the cloud. 



If this phenomenon be compared with the eleftric experi- 

 ment where a ball of cotton, fufpended by a filk thread, is in- 

 troduced into a metal vcllcl of a cvlindric form and fufficient: 

 width, and where the velfil is fometimcs rendered ele(I;tric 

 and fouictimes deprived of its eleAricity, the idea I mean to. 

 cimvev bv this dcfcriplion will be readilv conceived. I am 

 of opinion that I can thereby prove that we might examine 

 the eleSric Itate of the upper regions of the atmofphere, and 

 even of the clouds, with accuracv, if the latter were obferved 

 more frc(|uc-ntlv than has hitherto been doilc, and were they 

 employed as natvu'al elev^trometers for this pur[iofe. 

 '■ ,. ■,-..!■ 'i-~ -■ ■ •■ ^ 



VS.]:Oi>forjatibns on the Elk. By the Life E. IT. Smith, 

 rhijuian"'. 



X. H E account? liitbcrto publilLed bv Naturalilis, of the 

 Klk and the Moofc, two very remarkable animals of the 

 deer kind, are confuled and unfatisfacitory, Befide the mii- 

 apprchcnfions which thev contain, relative to both animals, 

 all the dlrhcultics in- the \\\\\ of obtaining juft notions con- 



• Frvm the Ametkan MiJiial Rcpi'fuoy, \\.!. \l. No. i.^ 



ccrniiig 



